When a new head coach takes the reins, change is inevitable. For the New York Liberty, that change comes in the form of a rather old-school motivation tactic—a $25 fine for missed free-throw box outs. And while the price tag might seem small, it's already making waves in the locker room.

Veteran forward Breanna Stewart didn't hold back when discussing the new policy on the Game Recognizes Game podcast. "Right now we’re getting fined for missed free-throw box outs," Stewart said. "We’re a little bit mad about it. Because it’s like, all right? What if the ball goes out of bounds? There’s no possession. And there are always caveats to it like a bad bounce."

It's a classic coaching move—using fines to sharpen focus and build discipline. From the NBA to soccer, we've seen this approach used to raise a team's efficiency and attention to detail. For Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco, the goal is clear: turn every free-throw sequence into a scoring opportunity and build a mindset that thrives under pressure.

Stewart admitted that even a modest $25 penalty can weigh on a player's mind during a game. DeMarco addressed the system in his post-game press conference following the Liberty's win over the Portland Fire. "I mean, it's all fun, but we hate free-throw box out—or I could call it free-throw offensive rebound," DeMarco explained. "So, it's big for us, you know that we can swing games majorly. So, it's a focus for us."

Frustration aside, the early results speak for themselves. Through their first three games, the Liberty have been sharp from the charity stripe, converting at a high clip. Sometimes a little bit of bite—and a $25 reminder—is all it takes to build a winning habit.